Can We Write Our Own Vows?

Of course, you can write your own vows. A few of things to keep in mind when you’re thinking about writing your own wedding vows…

Make sure they include, somewhere in the vows, that you want to be married to your fiancé.

Stay away from “inside” jokes that only you or your future spouse will understand. Otherwise, make sure you’re prepared to explain the “joke” to everyone else.

I don’t recommend that you try to memorize the vows. I generally recommend that the couple send the vows to me in advance, so that I can print them up and keep them with the ceremony and provide them to you at the appropriate time.

You don’t need to write a long vow, usually once page, double spaced, in 14pt. type is more than enough. You may also want to check with your partner to make sure that the two sets of vows are about the same length. (This doesn’t have to be exact, but it can seem awkward if one person’s vows are 30 seconds, and the other person’s go on for five minutes.

Remember that writing the vows will take some time. Don’t think you can write them on your way up to the ceremony. I always prepare a set of traditional vows, just in case.